Chair.



'l 827.398'. f l PA'BNTED JULY 31, 1.906.'

CHAIR. Aumonmn rmzn mnu, 1905.

` 2 sums-MEET 1.-

Plrnu co., waslnuran, D. c. Y

. classjtermed Avcierne.smics omen MARTIN tF. lSCHRENKEISENa OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CHAIR.

- State ofNeW York, have invented new fand useful. Improvements in Chairs, ofv whichthe followingvis .aspecification. i

This invention relates `to f chairs 'of .that folding chairs ;l and the object thereofis-to construct a vchair of'fsuchf'cl-ass with meanshereinafter set forth, which when the lchair' is opened'to normal position'foruse will; imparty unusual .strength thereto,.=as well as: making the chair thoroughly. rigid,.so that nomatter. to `what dangerous position or anglethe chair is placed While in' use there will be no danger of the chair collapsing or'folding upon itself. Furthermore, Asaid means is so const ructed and arranged .as to. enable the chairtofbe folded into small compass, toenabletheseatof the chair to be upholstered all over the top, if desired, or to permit of using ya cane seat and back; to providean abso-` lutely noiseless chairwhen `in use or :when opening or closing,v which is unusually .advane tageous i wherel noise; is objectionable, and7 to dispense -withA the .em lojymen-tr of screws, bolts, or any other proj ections on1 either side ofthe chair, which are objectionable for the reasonthat theyfinvariably vcatch the .gara ments f of 1.a person, Vconsequently injuring them.

The invention further aims to provide :a chair of such-class which when open or extended for use will have the appearance of a non-fol'dable vchair and will not be recognized as a foldingchairfiexcept` onl close scrutiny,

and, furthermore, to .so'construct the chair as to enablethe .same to be finished in 'any colorv or-,-gilt which Willmake the chair marketable Vfor many purposesat low, medium, and high prices.

The invention -`further aims vto provide a chair of the character` referred tol whichshall `be sim le in construction, strong, durable, rigid -w en open or cXtendcd,.-efficient'in its use, and 'comparatively inexpensive to manu'- facture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel combination, construction,. and yarrangement of Vparts hereinafter more specifically described, illustratedin the` accompanying drawings,

which form a part of this specification, and;

Specicaton ofl Letters Patent. Application led June'l7, 1905- `Serial No.265,751. l

Patented July 31, 1906.

lparticularlv pointed out inthe claimshereunto. appended.

11n describing'the` invention in detail'refere' ence ishad to the accompanying ldrawings, in

Which-y 1'Figurelr is a central uvertical sectional view of a chair constructed in accordancewith this invention when open: or extended'. vFi-g..2iis at like 1 view showingthe: 'chair folded. Fig. v3 is a centralsectional viewuof thevbridge element when=eXtended. Fig. 4 is ra like view with the bridge. elementi closed. yFig. 5'is-a front elevation of theibridge element ywhen extended, and Figs..I 6 and 7` are views` ofthe 'front and` rear seat hinged connections.

In the drawings, wherein like reference charout the several views, .ll 'denotes-.theirearf legs of the chair, whichare extendedl in .any suitable. manner,- :so as to form the. back-frame. 2 to which the back 3 is/connected..

f 4 denotes a rear brace, which is vsecured'between the legs l and in such-'position that the top thereofwill :be -in :.alinement with .the upper faceof :theseat frame '5,andf6 denotesanother brace for the legs 1,-which. is secured between the legsll; at apoint below the bracefl. f v

l yThereference lcharacter 7 denotes the front legs of the chair, whichnare connectedtogether, aswell as being. reinforcedl atv the top through the medium ofthe-combined front brace-and support 8. v

The side braces .ofthechair .are'indicated by the reference character 9, rand.- these side braces 9 are arranged betweenand yconnected tothe front and` rear legs near the lower ends thereof, landthermanner'in which the side braces 9 .arefconnected vwithgthev front'zand rear legswill; be hereinafter referred to. .The side braces 9 are yconnected .together through the medium of; the-combined support and brace member-1D, .said member 10 being arranged ata pointt'oward.theforwardfend of the side braces 9. f

- vEach of the side braces 9 is hinged to its respective'front and rearilegs, the Ireference character 11 denoting the hinged i connections between. the braces -9 and the'.l rear legs, and the referencecharacter 12- denotesthe hinged. connection between the braces .9' and .thefront legs. are arranged uponthe top of the braces 9,

IOO

`1o 5 The hinged'connections 1111Vd .andthe hinged connections .12am-arranged p 7o acters` denote correspondingpartsthroughupon the bottom of the braces 9. By such an arrangement when the chair is folded the braces 9 can be moved against the rear legs 1. The seat-frame 5 is hinged to the rear brace 4, so as to permit of the said frame being folded against the back of the chair, the hinged connection being a continuous one, as indicated by the reference character 13--that is to say, the hinged connection being substantially of a length equal to the width of the seat-frame at the rear threeof and so arranged that when the chair is open or extended the inner edge of the seat-frame abuts -against the front face of the brace 4. The seat-frame 5, approximately centrally of its lower face, at the rear thereof, is provided with a reinforcing-plate 14, which when the chair is open or extended is adapted to rest upon a pair of forwardly-projecting lugs 15, formed at the top of a pair of brackets 16, secured, as at 17, to the front of the brace 4. The seat-frame 5 when the chair is open or extended is adapted to have the front thereof supported upon the top of the legs 7 and brace 8, and the said seat-frame 5 is also hinged to the said legs 7 and brace 8, the hinged connection being a continuous one and is indicated by the reference character 18, and the said hinged connection 18 being of a length equal to the combined length of the brace 8 and the width of the legs 7 at-the top thereof. rlhe hinged connection 18 is so arranged that when the seat-frame 5 is folded toward the back-frame 2 the legs 3 can be folded toward the seat-frame 5. Owing to the arrangement of the hinged connections 11, 12, 13, and 18, when the chair is folded the seat-frame and side braces 9 will be interposed between the rear legs and the front legs ofthe chair. The connecting of the seatframe 5 to the rear brace 4 and to the front legs 7 and brace 8 through the medium of the continuous hinged connections13 and 18 imparts unusual strength at these points, which would not be the case if a small hinge were used at each side of the seat-frame at the front and rear thereof. The continuous hinged connections also obviate to a great extent liability of the seat-frame separating or breaking at .the points of connection between the seat-frame and the brace 4 and the front legs 7 and brace 8. The providing of the continuous hinged connections in the manner as set forth enables the seat-frame to be upholstered all over the top, as would be the case with an ordinary chair, and also permits of the upholstery being carried over the top of the brace 4. It also permits of using a cane seat, if desired.

Means is provided to retain the chair in an open or extended position, but without any strain whatever on the said means, whether the chair is open or closed. Furthermore, said means also acts to connect the parts of the chair together when the latter is folded,

so that the chair cannot be opened or extended unless said means is released. Said means consists of what may be termed a bridge element for bridging from the brace 4 to the brace 10. Said element comprises two interlocking and interfolding members, and for convenience of description one of said members will be termed the upper and. the other the lowen The upper member is pivoted at it-s lower end to the upper end of the lower member, as at 19. The upper member consists of two arms 20 21, somewhat curvilinear in contour and which converge toward, as well as merge into, each other at their lower ends, as at 22, and at their upper ends are pivoted in the brackets 16, as at 23. The portion 22 of the upper member is provided withlan opening 24, in which is pivoted, as at 25, a spring-pressed pawl 26, which is adapted to engage the lower member in a manner as hereinafter set forth, so as to retain the chair in its folded position. rlhe portion 22 of the upper member is also provided with acutaway portion, as at 27, forming thereby a shoulder 28, against which the lower member abuts in a manner as hereinafter set forth when the chair is open or extended, so as to prevent the chair from collapsing. Said' shoulder 28 is formed in such a manner as to' have the top edge thereof overlap the remaining portion, so that when the lower member is adjusted so as to abut or bear against the shoulder 28 the said lower member will have to spring past the top edge of the shoulder 28. To obtain this function, the shoulder 28 is slightly curvilinear in contour.

The lower member of the bridge element is formed of two arms 29 30, which are curvilinear in contour and are pivoted at their lower ends in the brackets 31, fixed to the upper face of the brace 10, as at 32. The arms 29 30 converge toward each other at their top and are connected together through the medium of the cross-pieces 33 34 35. 'l 1e cross-piece 33 is arranged in advance of the point of connection between the lower member and the upper member, and said. crosspiece 33 is rounded and is adapted to abut against the shoulder 28. Said cross-piece 34 is arranged at a point below the point of connection between the upper and the lower members, and the said cross-piece 35 is arranged below the cross-piece 34. Said crosspiece 35 projects outwardly from the arms 29 30 and is provided with an openin T 36, which forms a seat or catch portion 37, adapted to be engaged by the pawl 26 for connecting the chair together when folded. The opening 35 and catch portion 37 are formed in such a manner in the cross-piece 35 that the pawl 26 will be protected from accidental displacement when the chair is folded, and which is obtained by arranging the catch portion 37 below the plane of the outer face of the cross-piece 35.

TOO

The arrangement of l the pawl 26 \with fre'. specttozthe opening fandacatchiportion;37

\ lowered, and wheny the upper and lower-members are extended until y the crossfpiec'e 33 springsipast the topf. edge oftheshoulder. 28 and abuts against the said Shoulder the 'chair willthen be rigidybut owingtothe arrangement of: the bridge. element there is no strain whatever :thereon kwhen .using the achair.

VVh'eny the 1 upp er :and lowerf members are extended in ythe manner as .-hereinbefore :set

V forthandwhilein such position,it willlbe impossiblelto fold thevchair ori the,y chair `will be preventedfromfxcollapsing until the cross'- -piece 33 is moved. laway from; the'shoulder28, and this can only be .had vby bending :the bridge Aelement through the -medium of a manual operation, asthe arrangement ofthe crossfpi'ece yS33-withv respect to: the shoulder 28 lis such that when: they are inA an `abutting positioi they cannot :accidentallyabecome separate f The constructing of 'a folding zchairv-with the continuous hinged connections and'the bridge elementiy inla 'manner fas fhereinbefore set orth .imparts :unusual -strength Ito the chair, as well -aslmakes* the chairi thoroughly rigidfwhen thechair: is open-or extended, lso that no matter to what dangerouspositioncor iangle lthe chair isiplaced inwhile in use. there will? be no dangeri of .ther chair .f collapsing or folding upon itself. f The bridgeelementisso arranged with respeetto the chairthat itwill not interfere in any manner-with.y the',l folding of therchair,-and=when the-chainis folded', owing `to .the curvilinear construction ofthe upperfand lowermembers ,zsaid upperf mem-- ber wi-llffoldwwithin the 'lowermemberyand the two members willbearranged forward of the seat-frame, but `will z not project forward of thevfront legs, so'tas'to oHerany obstruction yand: not to. -give an unsightlyiappearance tothe chair whenfolded. y

AlthoughatheI invention is- *disclosed fas; Iapplied-to, an .armless chair, :yet the invention is' particularly adapted for: user in connection with. armedchairs, setteeS,A or` any: other gartiele4 of r furniture for which it-E may be applica e.

Having thus fully described invention,-

what I clalml :as new, and-f desireto secure: by Letters Patentyis- 4 l 1. :A` folding 'chair comprising-a bridge :element; for retaining the chain rigid when vopen or` ext-endedn-said bridge elem-entconsisting of. twot membersfneach pivotedf'atone: end to they chair-b odyand pivot-ally connected 1together atptheir other end,- one; of saidmem.- bersl providedwthfaarshoulderi adapted .tofibe engaged .rby the .other of said Amembers for retaining the. members"l in position when. extended and yonevof said members having means adapted to engage tleother of said members for connecting the members .to-

vgether .when folded.

'-2. A folding chair: comprising a bridge element fort-retaining the chair rigid when open orvextended, said .bridge element consisting of-twozmembersfeach pivoted at one end to the-chairbody andpivotally connected together .atztheir` other end,zone of said membersprovided with a shoulderwadaptedto-be engaged by the other of said'membersfor retaining-the membersinposition when extended v'and one 4'of said members havin means-adapted toV engagethe other of said members for yconnecting -the :members togetherwhen': folded, andoneof said members `adapted ktoi-extend in the otherlof said memb'ersuwhenwthe said. members are folded.

f3. A` chair comprising: rear.` legs, front legs, .y

a brace elementfor the rear legs, side braces hinged :at their ends to the front .and rear le s, a -su porting brace member connecting .t e side races together, a seat, 'a' hinged connection I between the seat `and said element, :a bra-ce for thefront legs,.a hinged vconnection between `the seat andV the said f brace `for the front legs,- and a foldable bridge. element pivotallyconneeted yatone vend to said element and: at:itsv other end pivotally connected to saidsupporting brace'member.

:4. 4A chair comprising y'rear legs, foldable front legs, asbrace'for therear legs, brackets secured to .said bracey ,and provided withaforwardlyfextending lugs,: a seathinge'd to said brace, ea' reinforcing-platesecured tothe seat and: adapted torest upon said lugs when the chairei'sopen or extended, afoldable bridge element :pivotally` connected at onel end to said brackets, 'and means vfor connecting the other end` of said element withI the front legs, said element: adapted-.to retain the chair rigid Whenopen or extended.

5. :A1 chair 'comprising rear r legs, foldable front legs,` a brace-for the rear legs, brackets securedto -said brace 'and` provided with .forwardly-extending` lugs, a seat hinged to said brace, a `reinforcing-platesecured to the seat and adaptedto rest upon said lugs vwhen: the chair is openwor extended, afoldable bridge element said brackets,v and` means .for connecting the otherend to said elementzwith the frontlegs, said element `adapted to retain the chair rigid when openr orv extended,A said element comprising means for s retaining -fthe chair yin .a

foldedy position.

- y 6. .A'chair comprising a -seat,.foldable front legs, .rear legs, 'a continuousI tion between the seat and the rear legs, a continuous'hinged connection between the seat and .the 'front legs, rvand a foldable and sectional y@brace kelementr for retaining-the; `chair pivotally connected'at one endto hinged connec- IOO rigid when open or extended and provided with means carried byone of the sections and engaging the other of the sections for retaining the chair and said elements in folded position.

7. A chair comprisin rear legs, a brace therefor, front legs, a race therefor, side braces, a hinged connection between the ends of the side braces and the front and rear legs, a seat, a continuous hinged connection betw'een the seat and the brace for the rear le s, a continuous hinged connection between ie seat and the front legs and the brace therefor, a supporting brace member for ythe side braces, and a foldable bridge element pivotally connected at its upper end to the brace for the rear legs and pivotally connected at its lower end to the said member.

8. A chair comprising rear legs, a brace member therefor, front legs, a brace element therefor, side braces, a hinged connection between the ends of the side braces andthe front and rear legs, a seat, a continuous hinged connection between the seat and the brace member for the rear le s, a continuous hinged connection between t e seat and the front legs and the brace element therefor, a supporting brace member for the side braces, brackets connected to the braces member for the rear le s and provided with forwardlyprojecting ugs adapted to support the inner end of the seat, brackets secured to said supporting brace member, and a foldable bridge element pivotally connected at its upper end to the brackets carried by the said brace member for the rear legs and pivotally connected at its lower end to the brackets carried by the said supporting brace member.

9. A chair comprising rear legs, a brace member therefor, front legs, a brace element therefor, side braces, a hin ed connection between the ends of the si e braces and the front and rear legs, a seat, a continuous hinged connection between the seat and the brace member for the rear legs, a continuous hinged connection between the seat and the front legs` and the brace element therefor, a supporting brace member for the side braces, brackets connected to the brace member for the rear legs and provided with forwardlyprojecting lugs adapted to support the inner end of the seat, brackets secured to said supporting brace member, and a foldable bridge element pivotally connected at its upper end to the brackets carried by the said brace member for the rear legs and pivotally connected at its lower end to the brackets carried by the said supporting brace member, said bridge element adapted to retain the chair rigid when open or extended and comprising means for retaining the chair in its folded position.

10. A folding chair having a foldable means for retaining the same rigid when open or extended and for retaining the chair in its senses folded position, said means consisting of an upper and a lower member pivotally connected together, one of said members provided with a shoulder and the other of said members having a cross-piece, said cross-piece adapted to enga e said shoulder for retaininfT the chair rigid wen extended and one of said members having a spring-pressed pawl and the other of said members provided with a catch portion adapted to be engaged by said pawl for retaining the chair in its folded position.

11. A folding chair having a foldable means for retaining the same rigid when open or extended and for retaining tie chair in its folded position, said'meansconsisting of an upper and a lower member pivotally connected together, one of said members provided with a shoulder and the other of said members having a cross-piece, said crosspiece adapted to engage said shoulder for retaining the chair rigid when extended and one of said members having a spring-pressed pawl and the other of said members provided with a catch portion adapted to be engaged by said pawl for retaining the chair in its folded position, one of said members adapted to receive the other of said members when the chair is folded.

12. A foldablel chair having an interlocking and interfoldable sectional brid e element having as a part thereof means adapted to retain the chair rigid when open or extended, said element zhaving one of its sections provided with means adapted to automatically engage the other of the sections for retaining the chair and said element in a folded position.

13. A foldable chair having an interlocking sectional bridge'element having as a part thereof means adapted to retain the chair rigid when open or extended, said element Vhaving one of its sections provided with means adapted to automatically engage the other of the sections for retaining the chair and said element in folded position.

14, A folding chair comprising rear legs, foldable front legs, a seat, a continuous hinge connecting the seat with the rear legs, a continuous hinge connecting the seat with the front legs, a sectional and foldable bridge element for retaining the chair rigid when extended, and means for solely connecting the bridge element to the front and rear legs.

15. A folding chair comprising rear legs,

-front legs, side braces hinged to the front and rear legs, a member connecting the side braces together, a seat hinged to the front and rear legs, a foldable bridge element arranged directly below the seat and adapted to retain the chair rigid when extended and to retain the chair in its folded position, and means for connecting the bridge element to the rear legs and to the said member.

16. In a chair, the combination with the IOO IOR

rear legs, a brace therefor, foldable frontr legs connected With the rear legs, a seat hin ed to said brace and to the front legs, a foIdable bridge element arranged directly beneath said seat and pivoted at one end to said brace, and means for pivotally connecting the other end ofsaid element with the front g17. A chair comprising rear legs, a member for connecting said legs together, a seat, foldable iront legs, a hinge connected to the seat and said member and of alength substantially equal to ,the length of said member, a front member for connecting the ront legs together, a'hingeattached to theseat and the said front member land of'a len th substan-l tially equal tothe length of sai member, a' Y n front legs, said element havinglas'a part thereof means for retaining the c air in position when folded. f v y In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Wit- IIGSSBS.

MARTIN F. SCHRENKEISEN. itnesses:

PETER M. SIMON, JOHN WHALEN. 

